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A weekly Emmy-nominated television program dedicated to educating, entertaining and connecting the community to the engaging stories and people behind their food by profiling local food treasures and highlighting the passionate and hardworking individuals responsible for the burgeoning “Good Food Movement.”
2015
Travel to Door County to visit Waseda Farms and the Wickman House. Meet with Tom Lutsey, owner and farmer at Waseda Farms, to get his philosophy on farming and a tour of his land. Then, we travel with some Waseda chickens to the Wickman House to follow our meal from ground to plate. There, we meet owners Joe Fahrenkrug and Mike Holmes, and wrap up the day with dinner with the Lutsey family.
Meet chef Patrick DePula, owner of Salvatore’s Tomato Pies in Sun Prairie and Madison. Patrick brings us to Vitruvian Farms in McFarland to meet the upstart twenty somethings who are changing the world one tomato at a time. Then we check out the first Yum Yum Fest celebrating the Madison Area Chefs Network and featuring chefs Jonny Hunter, Tory Miller and Daniel Bonanno to name a few.
Meet Milwaukee's Gretchen Mead and discover her Victory Garden Initiative, a program in which volunteers create raised bed gardens throughout the city to promote food growth in urban spaces. Host Kyle Cherek helps build gardens and meets the lucky folks receiving them. We catch up with Gretchen four months later to see the progress at the Victory Garden's own urban farm, Concordia Gardens.
In Sister Bay, meet with Jesse and Rachael Johnson, owners of Door County Creamery. Get a tour of the farm, meet their goats and then make your way back to the creamery to make fresh chevre. After a day of goat wrestling and cheesemaking, pay a visit to Door County Brewing Company co-founder John McMahon and discuss why he decided to open a brewery and what we can expect from their brews.
At Fondy Farm in Port Washington, meet up with Young Kim and a roster of Milwaukee’s best chefs for a 6-course meal that features food from the farm and celebrates the farmers. Then travel to Primrose Valley Farm CSA farm were Edible Madison is hosting a dinner prepared by Madison chef Tory Miller and chef Naomi Pomeroy of Portland Ore. restaurant Beast.
Travel to Monroe to celebrate 100 years of Green County Cheese Days! Start off with Limburger and Braunschweiger sandwiches at Baumgartner's Cheese Store and Tavern, and talk with several area master cheesemakers. Discuss the fine art of yodeling with Kerry Christensen, learn how to make the perfect fried cheese curd and end the day with a tour of the town square with Mayor William Ross.
Visit one of Wisconsin’s original apple orchards, where more than 120 apple varieties, some on the verge of extinction, are treated as art. Tour the orchard with owner Kenneth Weston and his daughter Genevieve, and make cider with Ethan Keller. Follow the cider the New Glarus Brewery, and then visit Apple Sauced, an event hosted by Edible Milwaukee and MKEfoodies.
Join Kyle Cherek and crew on a visit to Rushing Waters Fisheries in Palmyra, Wisconsin. Meet Rushing Waters president Peter Fritsch, get a tour of the fishery and watch Kyle make a noble attempt at catching his own dinner. Follow the fish from the pond to the kitchen and learn about one of chef Zachary Combs' favorite recipes, trout almondine.
Chef Justin Carlisle of Ardent restaurant in Milwaukee offers a tour of his family's farm in Sparta, where he gets many of the products for his restaurant. At Ardent, enjoy a small tasting menu and the restaurant's late-night ramen. Also on this episode, Craig's Meats & Catering owner Gary Craig talks about the relationship between butcher and chef.?
David Boucher and Stephanie Shipley, co-owners and founders of Amaranth Bakery & Cafe in Milwaukee, use fresh food to build community. At Madison Sourdough, get a taste for naturally leavened breads and French pastries with head baker and co-owner Andrew Hutchinson, who aims to bring nutrition back to bread.
Travel to Shullsburg and meet with Chris Roelli of Roelli Cheese Haus. Get a behind the scenes look at how to make one of Wisconsin’s most unique and innovative cheeses, Dunbarton Blue. Then, travel to Viroqua where Luke Zahm, owner and chef at the Driftless Café, prepares two incredible dishes that incorporate Roelli Cheese.
Go deer hunting near Port Washington with DNR hunting and shooting sports coordinator Keith Warnke. Before the hunt host Kyle Cherek gets some tips on shooting and hunter safety at a range in Eagle. Then at Milwaukee Area Technical College, culinary instructor Jack Kaestner demonstrates proper techniques for venison butchery and cookery.
Travel to the great Schreiner’s Restaurant in Fond du Lac where owner Paul Cunningham shares the secret to their success that is four generations strong. Watch as host Kyle Cherek gets a lesson in packing pork hocks from Bay View Packing Company's oldest employee. End your journey with a stop at Wolski’s Tavern in Milwaukee.
2014
Meet a young entrepreneurial couple that makes small batch preserves, Quince and Apple. Explore their newest recipe, Tart Cherry and White Tea, and follow the cherries back to Seaquist Orchard to meet farmer and owner Dale Seaquist. Finally, take a trip to the heart of cherry country for the annual Door County Cherry Fest.
Meet three up and coming Wisconsin culinary stars that collaborate on a special dinner: Brewer George Bregar, Chef Tory Miller of L’Etoile and Chef Justin Aprahamian, owner of Sanford Restaurant.
First we visit the Ditter family at their 4th generation dairy farm, Smilaire Family Farms in Plymouth, WI. We then follow a shipment of their milk to the Sartori Cheese company where they are making their award winning cheeses, SarVecchio Parmesan and Bellavitano. Take a tour of the process with Master Cheesemaker Mike Matucheski and meet Owner Jim Sartori.
Visit the award-winning New Glarus Brewing company in New Glarus, WI to meet Co-Owner and Brewmaster Dan Carey for a tour of the Brewery. Then meet James Altweis from Gorst Valley Hops as he and his team prepare to install the beginnings of a Hop farm. Finally, visit the Carey household for a look at how Dan tests different varieties of hops on his kitchen stove.In this episode of Wisconsin Foodie we profile Breadmaker Shawn Rediske of Water House Foods and Miller Gilbert Williams of Lonesome Stone Milling. We follow native Wisconsin heritage wheat from the field through the milling process at Lonesome Stone Milling and then baked into a delicious loaf of local love at Water House Bistro!
Travel to Madison, WI to visit The Underground Food Collective's newest ventures. Forequarter is a restaurant that prides itself on inventive American cuisine utilizing local ingredients and products. Then, visit Underground Butcher and get a behind the scenes look at the lost art of whole animal butchery while getting a lesson on everything from sourcing local meats to butchering philosophy.
Meet Chef Karen Bell, Owner of Bavette Le Boucherie in Milwaukee, WI and get her philosophy on the old world style of new school butchery. Follow Karen to Uplands Cheese in Dodgeville, WI to meet Cheesemaker Andy Hatch. Andy tours us through his facility and farm introducing us to his whey fed pigs. Finally, catch up weeks later for an event at Bavette that will celebrate Andy’s pigs and cheese.
We start off by visiting Wienkes Market in Door County, WI. There, the Wienke family gives us a tour of their farm and market, as well as a demo of their pickling process. Next, travel to Reedsburg, WI to visit the annual fermentation fest. Donna Neuwirth, Fermentation Fest organizer, takes us on the 50 mile loop tour of art and food that is Fermentation Fest.
Travel to Mineral Point, WI to visit with one of Wisconsin's true cheesemaking treasures, Tony Hook of Hook's Cheese Company. Hook's is known for their variety of high quality specialty cheeses, with one of our favorites being the 15 year old aged cheddar. Take a tour of their cheesemaking facility and get a little insight on aging cheddars, making blue's and most importantly, the curd.
Meet Lorin Toepper, creator of the WI Grilled Cheese Championship in Mineral Point. The state's very best grilled cheese chefs compete to win the annual title of best grilled cheese in the state, take home a trophy and a WI shaped cast iron pan. Then travel to Madison to meet Alisa Toninato of FeLion Studios for a first hand look at how she creates cast iron pans in the shape of Wisconsin.
Explore some of the less traditional aspects of Milwaukee's Beer and Sausage traditional past. First, visit Glorious Malone's Fine Sausage and get a behind the scenes look at the process of making Headcheese with Daphne Jones. Then head to Cathedral Square in Milwaukee for the annual Firkin Beer Fest and some insight into what a Firkin is.
Visit the annual WMSE Rockabilly Chili Fundraiser in Milwaukee, WI. Each year, the independent college radio station holds a massive chili competition between local restaurants as a fundraiser. Follow Fire Lieutenant Schuyler Belott as he prepares his special batch of chili for the competition. Then follow 6-time Veggie chili winner Riverwest co-op as they prepare their Bloody Bean chili.
Join us as we head out to the fields to hunt for lunch. Travel to Johnson Creek, WI and visit Millford Hills to hunt Pheasant. Hunting with expert Keith Warnke, we discuss hunting as original local food and paying homage to the land. We wrap up the day by dining on pheasant prepared by chef Jason Zellner of Millford Hills.
Visit the Ishnala Supper Club in Wisconsin Dells and meet author and filmmaker Ron Faiola. Learn some of the history behind Wisconsin Supper Clubs and experience the ultimate summer supper club feast. Then travel to Praire Du Sac, WI with Ira Koplowitz of Bitterbube to visit Wollersheim WInery and talk to Winemaker Philippe Coquard about their recent venture into the world of distillation.
2018
Explore some of Door County’s newest culinary destinations! Meet owners Ryan and Chris of Discourse Coffee’s “liquid workshop” for the ultimate tasting of coffee in the most unique forms. Then, owner Sarah Holmes tours through the exquisitely crafted menu at Trixie’s, sister restaurant to the Wickman House.
Go behind the scenes at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee to get a rare peek into a rock star kitchen. Each night, Chef Kevin Sloan and his crew cook for a new band. Join Chef Sloan and Cole Ersel as they pick up ingredients and prepare dinner for tonight's musical guests: Lake Street Dive.
See how local chefs and farmers work with Milwaukee Public Schools to teach students about cooking. Jennifer Bartolotta and Chef Dan Jacobs from DanDan take a group of students to Turtle Creek Gardens in Delavan. Later, the students use veggies from the farm in a class cooking competition.
Travel the Mississippi to see the effects of farm runoff on Bayou fisheries. Margaret Krome of the Michael Fields Institute rallies Wisconsin farmers to rethink practices and be more conscious of runoff. The goal is to bring Louisiana fishermen together with Wisconsin farmers over food.
Explore Milwaukee's beer garden culture with Hans Weissgerber, operator of the Estabrook Beer Garden. Hans collaborated with the county parks system to revive beer gardens in Milwaukee. Later, we find ourselves abroad in Munich, to tour the iconic Hofbrauhaus and more.
From farm to plate, Eau Claire is reinventing itself through food. At nearby Together Farms, Andy and Stephanie Schneider share their pasture-raising philosophy, restaurant links and epic Burger Night. The Informalist’s Chef Amy Huo uses their meat in her innovative, locally focused menu.
Meet husband-and-wife duo Kate and Dan Jacobs of the Plate Collective. By day, Dan Jacobs is the chef/owner of DanDan restaurant and Kate is a potter; by night, they join forces to put on special dinners. The Plate Collective pairs local chefs' culinary ideas with Kate's creativity.
Join Chef Dan Fox of Heritage Tavern in Madison as he prepares dinner for 200. We visit J. Henry Bourbon with Chef Fox as he tours the farm with owner Liz and Joe Henry for inspiration. Once a grain farm, J. Henry Bourbon now utilizes its own grains to produce bourbon.
Tour a busy plant in Plain and meet Bob Wills, master cheesemaker and president of Cedar Grove Cheese - with a taste test along the way. Also meet local artist John Riepenhoff of The Green Gallery, who is working with Bob Wills and Clock Shadow Creamery to develop a Double Cream Colby.
Visit Dominion Valley Farm in Allenton to meet farmers Brandon and Tammera Dykema and learn about their flock of heritage turkeys. Then, visit the River Food Pantry in Madison to see how some Thanksgiving magic happens each year.
Venture out into Horicon Marsh to learn the art of duck hunting with experts Keith Warnke, Mark Kakatsch and Jennifer Wirth. On the way, find out more about the marsh and duck calling techniques. Then, visit The Natural Way in Mayville to enjoy lunch prepared with wild duck from the Marsh.
Take a western Wisconsin burgers-and-beer tour. Visit Prairie du Chien's legendary Pete's Hamburger Stand, home of one of Wisconsin's first burgers. They've crafted their unique style of burgers for more than 100 years. Next, tour Potosi Brewery and the National Brewery Museum in Potosi.
Travel to Washington Island for a smorgasbord of chicken, ribs, pork and brisket at one of Wisconsin’s most popular BBQ competitions. Meet up with organizer Dick Jepsen, then go behind the scenes with pro BBQ competitor Tim Schopp, of Tim’s Full Belli Deli in Oshkosh.
2020
Host Luke Zahm travels to Sheboygan — home to world-class brats and hard rolls. Luke visits Miesfeld’s Meat Market to try his hand at making — and eventually eating — their Grand Champion Bratwurst. He also meets third-generation owner Chuck Miesfeld.
Luke Zahm heads to Milwaukee to take part in a charity dinner to help fight Kennedy’s disease. Along the way, Luke picks up ingredients from The Conscious Carnivore in Madison. He also stops at the Fauntleroy in Milwaukee, where he talks with co-owner and chef Dan Jacobs.
Host Luke Zahm stops by the Cameron Park Farmers Market in La Crosse and chats with Bao Xiong, a Hmong immigrant whose family has been farming in the area for almost two decades. Next, chef Adrian Lipscombe invites Luke to the Uptowne Cafe & Bakery for a southern-style breakfast.
For more than 60 years, the Milwaukee restaurant Three Brothers has been serving up award-winning Serbian food. Co-owner and chef Milunka Radicevic invites host Luke Zahm to cook with her. Later, Luke continues his exploration of Serbian cuisine by stopping by Serbian Fest in Racine where a small, but devoted group of churchgoers proudly keep their heritage alive.
Join host Luke Zahm in Sheboygan to learn what makes Sheboygan’s hard rolls so special. First, visit City Bakery to meet with Owner Rick Navis and help with his daily bake. Then, head to West Side Bakery to explore the history of hard rolls. Finally, Luke puts the product to the test, using local Miesfeld’s brats!
Host Luke Zahm travels to Lombardino’s in Madison to catch up with an old friend, Chef Patrick O’Halloran. Luke and Patrick jump into the kitchen to work on a dish for an upcoming event at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin in Spring Green. Afterwards, Luke hits the road to visit Taliesin, where chef O’Halloran will be hosting a dinner on the property for 100 guests.
Meet Deer Creek Cheese owner Chris Gentine and learn how he collaborates with other cheese companies to create unique cheeses. Then, follow Chris to Henning’s Wisconsin Cheese and watch how the infamous Rattlesnake cheese is made. Then, head to 3 Sheeps Brewing Company in Sheboygan to get a tour and tasting from owners Grant Pauly and James Owen.
Sap-Sap, meaning "Delicious Delicious" in the Lao language, is both a pop-up dinner series and brand of food products created by Alex Hanesakda. Alex, who was born in a refugee camp, is now responsible for one of the hottest dinner tickets in town. Chef Luke Zahm travels to Racine to meet Alex and his family as they prepare for their annual Lao BBQ dinner.
Luke heads to a family farm in Hixton, south of Osseo, that grows green in multiple ways. At the state-of-the-art Superior Fresh facility, president Brandon Gottsacker introduces Luke to new farming methods that produce high-quality organic greens and top-of-the-line Atlantic salmon that are economically and ecologically sound. The day ends with an in-depth taste test.
Autumn in the Driftless hills offers vivid colors and flavors! After Luke samples tacos at a music venue in Spring Green, he checks out Enos Farms' pig farm and their Harvest Moon farm dinner. On his way to dinner, he makes a brief stop at Meadowlark Organics and The Cider Farm to learn more about some of the local ingredients featured alongside Enos pork.
Chef Luke Zahm stops at the Delta Diner in Delta, Wisconsin to find out why owner Todd Bucher decided to open an old-school diner in the middle of the north woods. From there, Luke visits the Ashland Baking Company and the Sixth Street Market: two local food producers that work collaboratively with the Delta Diner to create mouth-watering meals.
A beautiful autumn day starts at Bonnie’s Diner in Phillips, Wisconsin. Chef Luke Zahm meets local hunters Emily Lehl and Jacob Zueske for breakfast. Then, they take him hunting for grouse and woodcock. Luke ends the day with a special meal of hunter’s stew and deep fried game bird made especially for Jacob and Emily.
Chef Luke Zahm visits Zócalo, a new food-truck park located in the Walker’s Point neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jesús González of Mazorca Tacos shows Luke how he and his mother use handmade tortillas and traditional fillings. Then, Luke travels to Milwaukee’s eastside to check out Crossroads Collective, a food hall filled with up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
2021
Meet Jessica and Erika Jones of Giant Jones Brewery in Madison. This independent woman-owned brewery uses 100% organic methods to create “big” beers. Next, catch up with Chef Dave Heide, owner of Liliana’s Restaurant. During the pandemic, he repurposed his shuttered Madison space to create weekly Nom Nom Nom Boxes — meal kits utilizing ingredients from local farmers.
The Tandem in Milwaukee is known for world class fried chicken and its connection to community. Owner Caitlin Cullen handled COVID-19 closures by serving free meals to those in need. In Lancaster, Kevin Jahnke is a 4th generation dairy farmer. Taking over from his dad, he transitioned to 100% organic. The hard knocks dairy industry has him diversifying by growing organic hemp for CBD products.
The Tornado Room is one of the last standing classic supper clubs in the Madison area. Owner Henry Doane discusses his concept of the perfect supper club and shares their famous ribeye steak dinner. Next, head out west to Elmaro Winery in Trempealeau to visit owners Laura Roessler and her mother Lynita Docken to see first hand how they produce award winning wines with Wisconsin grown grapes.
Did you know that Sturgeon Caviar is one of the most sought after luxury food items in the world? We visit Fond du Lac, WI during sturgeon spearing season to see if we can get our hands on some caviar for ourselves. What makes this product so treasured is that the sale of it is illegal in Wisconsin and only a handful of people know how to take the Sturgeon eggs and turn them into caviar. We meet up with the owner of Wendt’s on the Lake Shawn Wendt as he tours us around and introduces us to Zach and Norb, a team of Caviar makers in Fond du Lac, maybe the last of their kind. Luke also prepares classic Wisconsin Deviled Eggs utilizing Sturgeon Caviar.
Decatur Dairy in Brodhead is home to Wisconsin’s only cheese curd Master Cheesemaker, Steve Stettler. He works in many styles, but his most storied is curds. Stettler takes Luke through the plant, showing how Decatur makes their curds. He enjoys product innovation, and he’s partnering with Pine River, maker of cheese spreads, to create a signature Wisconsin spread from his Colby Swiss.
Drive-in burger stands are a throwback to our foodie past, but in Kenosha they’re still going strong. We visit Big Star and The Spot to see first hand what the burgers are all about. Next, we visit Chef Dane Baldwin, owner of The Diplomat in Milwaukee, a recent James Beard Award semi-finalist. Try the Diplomac burger — a play on the Big Mac with quality ingredients and superior flavor.
Savory Accents in Verona specializes in growing unique peppers from around the world. The business’ success is due to their product innovation, using their peppers for vinaigrettes, sauces, flakes, etc. Host Luke Zahm stops by the farm to meet owners Ted and Joan Ballweg, who tour Luke around the farm and teach him how to make gazpacho.
Chef Daniel Bonanno of Pig in a Fur Coat, a Mediterranean comfort food restaurant in Madison, uses inspiration from his Italian roots and presents it in a classic yet modern and approachable way. Host Luke Zahm visits the restaurant to taste some of the chef’s cooking and learn more about his history, including his time at Tenuta's Deli in Kenosha.
Hotel Washington is the crown jewel of Door County’s Washington Island. Owner Jeannie Kokes attempts to rejuvenate the island by focusing on the local food. Hiring chefs Matt Poole and Amanda Ebenhoeh to reimagine dining to utilize the island’s food is one way she works towards her goal. She also invested in local farms Hoot Blossom and Folk Tree.
Visit two of Stevens Point’s up-and-coming foodie spots, Main Grain Bakery and Father Fats. First learn how Sarah Jo More’s passion for sourdough grew into her opening Main Grain Bakery. Then meet Chef Christian at Father Fats, which specializes in small plates from around the world containing the unique flavor and personality of their chef.
Discover Wisconsin island food and culture! First travel to Farmhouse Restaurant on Madeline Island to meet with owners Gip and Lauren who tell about island life and their cooking philosophy. Then visit Washington Island’s Island Cafe and Bread Company where owner Heidi Gilbertson guides host Luke Zahm in making and tasting some of their pizzas.
Immy Kaggwa, who moved from Uganda to Milwaukee 30 years ago, wanted to do something that came natural to her: cooking. So she opened Immy’s African Cuisine. Also, meet Tapped Maple Syrup owner Jeremy Solin, who focuses on infusing unique flavors into the highest quality maple syrup from sustainably managed forests in northern Wisconsin.
Seven Seeds Farm in Spring Green transitioned from conventional farming to certified organic, certified 100% grass-fed and Animal Welfare Approved. Meet Michael and Chloe Dolan to get a farm tour and learn more about the transition. Host Luke Zahm then uses Seven Seeds beef to make Steak au Poivre, sharing how to properly cook grass-fed meat.
2025
Luke Zahm journeys along the Mississippi River to Chef Shack in Bay City, Wisconsin, where co-owners Carrie Summer and Lisa Carlson craft world-class cuisine with local ingredients. From food trucks to seasonal tasting menus, Luke discovers the passion, creativity and dedication that makes Chef Shack a culinary gem.
Luke Zahm visits Three Brothers Farm in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, where Michael and Courtney Gutschenritter balance sustainable farming with family life. Luke follows the eggs to Uncle Wolfie’s Breakfast Tavern in Milwaukee, where owners Wolfgang Schaefer and Whitney McAllister explain how these exceptional ingredients elevate their dishes.
Luke Zahm explores the magic of Kwik Trip’s iconic Glazers, touring the La Crosse bakery where 47 million donuts are made annually. At the Owl Farm, Luke turns Glazers into a decadent bread pudding using only Kwik Trip ingredients, proving these beloved donuts are as versatile as they are delicious!
Host Luke Zahm visits Middleton, Wisconsin, for National Mustard Day at the National Mustard Museum, home to over 6,900 mustards! With founder Barry Levenson, Luke dives into mustard ice cream, glazed treats and cooks a juicy pork shoulder with Stormin' Gorman mustard sauce, showcasing mustard’s magic as the ultimate secret ingredient.
Explore Wisconsin's potato legacy with host Luke Zahm, from sustainable farming at Sterling Farms near Grand Marsh to innovations at Alsum Farms & Produce in Cambria. At the Milwaukee Chef Collaboration Dinner, he joins top chefs to craft a gourmet dish celebrating the humble potato’s versatility, local flavors and sustainability.
Uncover the link between dairy and spirits with host Luke Zahm in Knowlton, Wisconsin. At Mullins Cheese, learn about cheesemaking and the creative uses of whey, a cheesemaking byproduct. Then, travel to Knowlton House Distillery to see how whey is turned into vodka and gin.
Travel with host Luke Zahm to La Farge, Wisconsin, home to North America’s largest organic black garlic producer. Discover how Driftless Area garlic transforms into a sweet, savory umami delicacy through fermentation. Meet the farmers, explore its culinary versatility and taste bold creations like black garlic ice cream with blue cheese.
Join host Luke Zahm in the heart of Wisconsin’s northwoods with the lively Beef-A-Rama in Minocqua, where 31 beef roasters compete with flavors from Asian marinades to Midwest classics. Then, savor sizzling steaks and buttery scallops at the iconic McGregor’s Blink Bonnie Supper Club in Saint Germain.
Host Luke Zahm visits Flour Girl & Flame in West Allis, where Chef Dana Spandet crafts wood-fired pizzas with local ingredients. Celebrating their fourth anniversary at Alice’s Garden Urban Farm, the team introduce Luke to this hub of urban agriculture, sharing the garden’s role in food security, cultural preservation and community connection.
Host Luke Zahm explores heritage and flavors at Clario Farmstead Pasta in Sturgeon Bay, where organic, small-batch pasta is infused with local flavors. Then, he travels to Louie’s Finer Meats in Cumberland, famed for award-winning sausages. Luke brings it together with a dish featuring Italian sausage, wheat pasta and fresh vegetables.
Host Luke Zahm visits Marcus Landry, former Wisconsin Badger and NBA player turned farmer, at Beulah Family Homestead. Landry’s farm connects kids to sustainable food production through hands-on activities, teaching animal care, farming and meal prep.
Host Luke Zahm visits Ahan in Madison, where Chef Jamie Brown-Soukaseume blends her Laotian heritage and Chinese restaurant upbringing into a unique culinary experience. Using fresh, local ingredients, Jamie creates vibrant dishes like papaya salad and lemongrass chicken that showcase her passion for authentic Southeast Asian flavors.
Host Luke Zahm visits Chef Robin Brown at Osteria Tre Tassi in Ellison Bay. Brown crafts Mediterranean-inspired, farm-to-table dishes like buffalo mozzarella ravioli and seared fresh-caught whitefish, blending his Italian heritage with local ingredients.
2010
Travel to Oak Creek, WI and join Chef David Swanson at Pinehold Gardens for a pig roast. Chef Swanson is preparing a dinner on the farm for 50 people. We also meet the farmers at Pinehold Gardens - Sandy Raduenz and David Kozlowski and get a tour of their land.
Follow farmer Tim Huth of LotFotl Farm in East Troy, WI as he prepares produce for his weekly CSA & restaurant deliveries. We also visit Beans & Barley restaurant and get a behind the scenes look at how they use local produce on their menu.
Visit the annual Kohler Food & Wine experience to meet up with several top chefs and tour the area with Chef Ulrich Koberstein.
Travel north to Bayfield, WI to visit the Wild Rice restaurant and meet with owner Mary Rice and Chef Jim Webster.
Visit Madison, WI and tour the Dane County Farmers Market with Chef Tory Miller. Chef Miller introduces us to some of his favorite vendors at the market.
Visit the West Allis Farmers Market with Chef/Owner of Sanford restaurant Sandy D'Amato and his Chef de Cuisine Justin Aprahamian. With the bounty purchased at the market we cook up lunch at the restaurant.
Travel to Belgium, WI to meet farmer Al Wyker of Lakeview Buffalo Farm. Al takes us on an adventure around his farm to feed the Bison. We also join Olympic Gold-Medal winner and Wisconsin native Garrett Weber-Gale at Bacchus restaurant in Milwaukee for an evening of celebration.
We get on our bikes and ride through Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties with Chef David Swanson. We tour several of his favorite farms: Jeff-Leen Farms, Wellspring Farms and Evergreen Lane Farm ending in a dinner shared by farmers and cyclists.
Visit Urban Agriculture upstart Sweet Water Organic in Milwaukee, WI. Founder Jim Godsil gives us a tour and tells us about the past, present and future of Sweet Water Organics.
Travel north to Cornucopia, WI to meet a family living off the grid and making Kim Chi. Jennifer and Andrew Sauter-Sargent run Spirit Creek Farm, a lacto-fermented foods company.
Travel to Elkhart Lake and visit with Chef Lynn Chisholm of the Paddock Club. Chef Lynn tours though the Elkhart Lake Farmers Market and then walks us across the street to prepare lunch at her restaurant. We also visit the Osthoff Cooking school and the Lake Street Cafe.
Visit with local food icon Will Allen of Growing Power in Milwaukee, WI. Will gives us a tour of his farm which is the last remaining farm in the city and located in a food desert. We then follow a shipment of greens from Growing Power to Meritage restaurant in Wauwatosa were Chef Jan Kelly prepares a dish that incorporates the greens.
Travel to Platteville and tour BJB Cattle Company with Farmer Barry Brodbeck. Barry has partnered with the Strauss Veal Company to "free-raise" veal calves. We also meet the family behind Strauss veal and hear their philosophy behind "free-raised" veal. Later, we visit Bacchus restaurant in Milwaukee where Chef Adam Siegel is putting together an 8 course dinner that features "free-raised" veal.
2012
Explore Milwaukee’s North Side and meet several individuals changing the course from a Food Desert to an Urban Ag epicenter. Visit with Young Kim of the Fondy Food Center as he celebrates the market's opening weekend with a BBQ competition. Then, travel to Alice’s Garden to meet Venice Williams. Finally, visit Milwaukee’s iconic Speed Queen BBQ and get a tour from owner Giovanni Gillespie.
Visit Madison, WI for the World Cheese Championship. With over 2500 cheeses from around the world, this group of esteemed and international judges must select the top 3 cheeses in the world. Meet some of the judges that happen to also be the biggest names in the cheese industry from buyers to writers and cheesemakers to mongers.
Over the past several decades we have strayed away from small farms raising and processing their own animals. Meet a couple farmers that are reversing that trend and bringing back small scale meat processing: Steven and Darlyne Pinnow of Pinn-Oak Ridge Farms and Bartlett Durand of Black Earth Meats. Finally, visit Burgers and Brew - an event put on by REAP food Groups at Capital Brewery.
Visit the award-winning New Glarus Brewing company in New Glarus, WI to meet Co-Owner and Brewmaster Dan Carey for a tour of the Brewery. Then meet James Altweis from Gorst Valley Hops as he and his team prepare to install the beginnings of a Hop farm. Finally, visit the Carey household for a look at how Dan tests different varieties of hops on his kitchen stove.
Travel to New York City to celebrate the man known as James Beard. First, visit the James Beard House in greenwich village for a "pop-up" dinner featuring chef Tory Miller of L'Etoile. Then, hit the red carpet for the James Beard Awards in which chef Miller and chef Justin Aprahamian are nominated for Best Chef Midwest.
In New York City, see the influence Wisconsin has on the worlds biggest culinary stages. First, meet Beloit native turned international celebrity and Michelin-awarded chef, Michael White at Osteria Morini. At Murray's Cheese, see where Wisconsin ranks among the world's best cheeses. And, meet Milwaukee native Julia Jaksic at Employees Only where she creates midwestern inspired dishes.
Picnic on the farm at Cress Spring Bakery in Blue Mounds. Hosted by Edible Madison, this picnic features pigs raised by Chef Dan Fox and Micah Nicholes and cooked over a wood-fired oven that baker Jeff Ford also uses to make artisanal breads.
Meet several vendors at the market, and get a behind the scenes look at the annual breakfast that celebrates the market's final day. Featuring chef Peter Sandroni from La Merenda, Justin Aprahamian from Sanford, culinary instructor Jack Kaestner and more.
In Burlington, tour Brightonwoods Orchard with owner and vice president of the Wisconsin Apple Growers Association Bill Stone. The orchard features over 200 varieties of apples, including rare, antique apples that are popular with local chefs. Brightonwoods is also home to AeppleTreow Winery & Distillery, which makes cider, brandy and whiskey with the fruit.
At Wisconsin's original CSA farm in Plymouth, owner Peter Seely gives a tour of the farm and shows the process of packing up the CSA boxes. Also, Chef Chris Mangless of Three Three Five in Green Bay stops by the farm to pick up some produce for a special cocktail dinner he is hosting with guests Nick and Ira of Bittercube.
Travel from Sauk County to Barvaria, Germany to profile one of our favorite ingredients – the hop. First, visit Gorst Valley Hops to learn about the resurgence of Wisconsin Hops. Then, tag along with Dan Carey of New Glarus Brewing as he travels to the Hallertau region of Bavaria, Germany to source hops for some of their brews.
Explore a small sample size of the food trucks world ranging from traditional and ethnic cuisine to trucks dedicated to Midwest comfort food using locally sourced ingredients.
Visit Milwaukee's first inner-city cheese factory, Clock Shadow Creamery, which sits in the shadow of the Allen-Bradley clock in the city's burgeoning culinary neighborhood Walker's Point. Get a tour from owner Bob Wills and learn how the creamery also serves as an incubator for upstarts like Martha's Pimento Cheese and Purple Door Ice Cream.
2016
In this episode, Kyle Cherek and Jessica Bell explore the fine culinary delicacies of the Wisconsin State Fair. From maple-glazed pork belly wrapped in bacon to the iconic cream puff, explore all the fair has to offer.
2017
Visit three innovative Viroqua businesses. Eric Weninger and Bree Breckle of B&E’s Trees show how they craft Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup, the crew at Wisco Pop explains how they make soda with natural ingredients, and Scott Lucey from Kickapoo Coffee Roasters serves up latte art.
2019
In this episode, we meet up with award-winning Chef Tory Miller at Sujeo, his Korean inspired restaurant. Host Kyle Cherek and Chef Miller head to the woods with hunting guide Keith Warnke and friends to learn about hunting a turkey for their dinner. The group heads back to Sujeo, and Tory prepares a fresh turkey in multiple ways while utilizing the whole bird.
2022
Head to Stevens Point to visit Siren Shrub Company, home of the Door County Cherry Shrub. Siren gets ingredients for their shrubs — nonalcoholic drinks that incorporate apple cider vinegar, sugar and a fruit, root or herb — from local farms, like Whitefeather Organics. Tony and Laura Whitefeather invite everyone to their farm for a pizza night.
2023
Calderone Club owner and chef Gino Fazzari has cornered the market on pizza in Milwaukee. His family can lay claim to the original pizza recipe in Milwaukee. Fazzari also owns San Giorgio, a certified Neapolitan wood-fired pizza restaurant. Host Luke Zahm stops by the restaurant to determine his favorite style of pizza.
2024
Host Luke Zahm visits Bootleggers Lodge in Tomahawk, which has a long culinary history in Wisconsin dating back to prohibition. During Luke’s visit, Bootleggers owner Brian Hollnagel and chef Maja Holcomb have invited Michelin-Starred Swedish chef Håkan Thörnström to cook a dinner incorporating Wisconsin ingredients with a Swedish twist.
2011
Travel from the ground to the cup and learn the story behind a cup of coffee. Meet coffee roasters around the state and hear their philosophies on roasting, fair trade and the importance of community. Then, travel with Alterra Coffee to visit farmers and see firsthand how coffee is grown and selected. Finally, we get a lesson on making the perfect Espresso with award winning barista Scott Lucey.
Kyle visits the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in East Troy, touring the grounds and sitting down to a white-linen dinner prepared by Tyler Sailsbery of the Black Sheep. This episode also profiles Dan O’Leary, who has been caring for the bees of Michael Fields for 15 years.
Kyle and Jessica travel to Door County to feature two successful food families making their mark in the region. At the Wild Tomato, Kyle tries his hand at making wood-fired pizza. In the second segment, Kyle and Jessica meet Bob and Yannique Purman, owners of Island Orchard Cider.
In this episode we celebrate cheddar! Gordon Edgar, famous Californian cheesemonger by day and cheese writer by night, has come to Wis. with his new book “Cheddar” and tours some of his favorite cheddar makers, Henning's and Widmer's. Kyle travels to L’Etoile in Madison where chefs Tory Miller, Justin Aprahamian and Justin Carlisle each prepare a course using a different aged cheddar.
In this episode, the crew visits the Driftless area, home to one of the best food scenes in the Midwest. At Driftless Organics, meet the young farmers responsible for one of the most influential organic farms in the state. In the second segment, meet Dani Lind, owner of the Rooted Spoon popup.
In this episode, spend the day in New Glarus with Deb and Dan Carey of New Glarus Brewery for Oktoberfest. Jessica Bell meets up with Deb and Dan at their home as they prepare for Oktoberfest, lederhosen and all. In the second segment, meet an upstart brewer with big plans of his own.
In this episode, Kyle visits Stoney Acres Farm to meet a young family that has decided to stay on the family farm but try something totally different: a pizza farm. To compliment their CSA program, every Friday night in season the family opens their farm to the public. From the crust to the veggies, everything comes from the farm.
In this episode, visit a festival that beats all festivals (for cheese): Cheesetopia. Cheesetopia is an event that showcases the best of the best in Midwest cheeses. Kyle meets some of our favorite Wisconsin cheese makers and tries some award-winning cheese. At the event Kyle meets one cheese maker in particular, Katie Furman of LaClare farms.
In this episode, travel to Spain with sisters Chef Karen Bell and Jessica Bell. Spain was very influential in the sisters’ culinary lives, who both lived and worked in the country before settling in their hometown of Milwaukee. Tour from Madrid to San Sebastian, and try to eat and drink everything in between.
In this episode, explore native cuisine from festival favorites like fry bread to the more traditional and historical like wild rice. In the first segment, Kyle stops by the Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee to meet local characters and try some delicious native staples. In the second segment, travel to a reservation to profile Greg Johnson of the Ojibwe tribe and learn how to harvest wild rice.
Kyle travels to a small dairy farm in Chaseburg to meet the Gretebeck family, whose farm produces milk that goes to Organic Valley for grass-fed milk and butter. Kyle follows the family’s milk from their farm to a nearby butter plant and watches their grass-fed milk become butter. He then returns to the farm with some new butter to enjoy.
In this episode, we visit the UWM School for Fresh Water Science in Milwaukee and hear what they are doing to help fish farmers breed a more healthy and sustainable perch. Then we travel to Fond Du Lac to visit an icon in the fish fry biz, Linda Wendt, owner of Wendt's on the Lake. We go behind the scenes to see what makes their lake perch fish fry so special.
Bay View has always been thought of as a working class neighborhood with mom and pop restaurants, ethnic eateries and delis. Today, a group of young chefs and restaurateurs want not only to preserve that tradition but elevated it to a whole other level. In this episode we feature a small sample of restaurants leading the charge, Odd Duck, The Vanguard and Goodkind.
Visit Briess Malt & Ingredients Co. in Chilton to learn about the age-old, hands-on process of making barley into malt. Then travel to Amherst to get a behind-the-scenes tour of Central Waters Brewing Co. and sample unreleased stouts.
Visit the award-winning, energy-supplying, cheese-making facility Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese to see how the facility is a shining example of “big dairy” done right. George Crave offers a tour of the facility and explains how their methane energy is distributed to the community.
Go from berry to bottle and see how Gin is produced at Death’s Doors Spirits. Learn about the history of Death’s Door from founder Brian Ellison. Then, travel to Washington Island with a national bartender and mixologist group called Lush Life to see where the juniper berries are harvested.
Travel to Osseo to learn how Norske Nook baker Kim Hanson makes sour cream-and-raisin pies with foot-high meringue, and learn about Norske Nook’s history. Continue the pie-themed tour with Jonathan Dye of Mr. Dye's Pies, who shows how he makes some of the best pies in Milwaukee.
Join outdoor guide Keith Warnke to explore the edible outdoors of Muscoda. Start by harvesting roadside asparagus, then head to the hills to hunt for morels, and finally jump into the streams and try fly fishing for trout. Driftless Café chef Luke Zahm brings the bounty together.
Visit Muscoda for their annual Morel Fest and go behind the scenes to see how one of the most popular foraged food events comes together. While in town, stop by Meister Cheese Co. to tour the facility and meet the owners.
Bypass the water slides and head straight to Roots Chocolate in the Wisconsin Dells to meet the owner, Lisa Nelson. Then travel to Bos Meadery to get a behind-the-scenes tour of the meadery, which is fermenting some of the most interesting meads in the market.
Visit the Milwaukee neighborhood of Lindsay Heights to meet Maanaan and JoAnne Sabir of The Juice Kitchen and get a fresh perspective on the neighborhood. Then walk to Tandem – brainchild of chef Caitlin Cullen – a restaurant that focuses on bringing the community together through food.
Travel off the beaten path to visit two Supper Clubs: Red Cabin at Green Acres and Idlewile Supper Club. Meet Dave Schuh, owner of the Red Cabin at Green Acres. Then travel down the road to meet Brenda and Dave Panko, fifth owners of the Idlewile Supper Club.
Start the morning with chef Aaron Patin as his stokes a fire that will eventually smoke the meats at Iron Grate BBQ Co. in Milwaukee. Then, join Aaron at Twist & Sprout Farms to meet farmer Cam Pauli and look over the Red Wattle hogs that will eventually be used at Iron Grate.
Travel to Mount Pleasant to meet home miller and heritage grain enthusiast Charlie Tennessen of Anarchy Acres. See how Charlie and his team of donkeys remain self-sufficient, and learn why Charlie focuses his land on heritage and rare wheat varieties, experimenting from seed to bread.
Explore a Milwaukee culinary tradition that is engrained in the city’s DNA: German cooking and sausage. Visit Karl Ratzsch and Usinger’s, which are both more than 100 years old and have been working together for just as long. Learn about the companies’ histories and explore a typical day.
Host Kyle Cherek meets chef Joe Muench, co-owner of Milwaukee’s popular restaurants Blue’s Egg, Maxie’s and Story Hill BKC. Muench offers a tour through all three restaurants, sampling dishes along the way. Each restaurant not only focuses on comfort foods but also on sourcing quality ingredients while transforming and expanding Milwaukee's palate.
Travel to Wausau and meet Will Hsu of Hsu Ginseng. Wausau is known for its abundance of American Ginseng, both wild and farmed. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the world of ginseng and learn what makes it so popular, how it’s cultivated, and the different ways to incorporate it into your recipes.
Visit Algoma, where two hot spots are making a name for themselves. First, host Kyle Cherek stops in at Skaliwags tavern, where chef Marshall Wiltfang is bringing down-home tastes up north. Next, host Jessica Bell visits Von Stiehl Winery, which uses Door County fruits and grapes aged with the unique Wisconsin terroir found in Von Stiehl's cellars.
Celebrate the art of mobile cookery. First, meet TrueMan McGee, owner and operator of Funky Fresh Spring Rolls, who is feeding the community healthy fast-food alternatives. Next, host Jessica Bell heads to a food truck festival at the Blind Horse Restaurant & Winery in Kohler and samples everything from cowboy fries to gelato.
Dip into the coastal waters of Lake Michigan and search for the freshest whitefish with Henriksen's Fisheries. Then visit Hidden Acres Farm for a tour; meet with chef Matt Chambas and his partner Jamie Mead of Door County Underground; and join Ryan Castelaz of Discourse as he mixes up unique cocktails.
Step into the cranberry marshes of Cranmoor, where Mary Brazeau Brown and her company Glacier Lakes Cranberry cultivate Wisconsin’s state fruit. Brown’s brainchild, Honestly Cranberry, is a dried cranberry free from sugars and oils. The day wraps up at the Driftless Café, where Chef Luke Zahm incorporates Mary’s cranberries into mouth-watering duck and pork sausages.
Visit a Milwaukee warehouse that’s a creative hub for food and drink innovators. Johnny Stallion of PhiloÇoffia takes coffee to new highs; MOR Bakery and Café’s Traci Morgan-Hoernke cooks up gluten-free goodies; and Mary and Noah of Top Note Tonic boil a new batch of ginger beer. Finally, visit Twisted Path Distillery and meet owner Brian Sammons.
At Big City Greens & Gourmet, Bryan De Stefanis and Deb Diaz cultivate and forage small treasures that bring big flavor to some of Wisconsin’s premier kitchens. Travel with De Stefanis to Kohler, where he delivers mushrooms, vegetables and other delights to the Blind Horse Winery. There, Kyle Cherek is introduced to winemaker Thomas Nye and chef Brent Davis.
Travel to Prairie du Chien to meet Mike Valley, a fourth-generation commercial fisherman who is as much at home on the river as he is back at his unique shop. A master decoy maker and a resourceful conservationist, Valley invites us to spend two days with him as he catches, smokes and samples some of the finest fish the Mississippi River has to offer.
Visit a farm in Pulaski, where farmer Chris Jaworski grows a highly sought-after variety of organic soybeans. Next, James Beard-nominated chef Luke Zahm travels to Milwaukee to visit Simple Soyman, Wisconsin’s only tofu manufacturing facility. On his way back to the Driftless Café, Zahm stops to pick fresh watercress that he incorporates into a show-closing dish.
Visit Paoli to tour Anna Thomas Bates and Anna Landmark’s cheese and specialty shop. Next, head to Uplands Cheese to pick up milk from Scott Merika and Andy Hatch, and visit Cedar Grove Cheese to meet master cheesemaker Bob Wills. Finally, Anna Landmark explains the process of making Landmark’s Tallgrass Reserve.
Venture out to Viroqua for a visit with Mat and Cate Eddy of Ridgeland Harvest. The pair started farming with just a half-acre, but quickly grew their business through Community Supported Agriculture and the help of local chefs. James Beard-nominated chef Luke Zahm helps them pick produce for a farm dinner featuring Hillsboro Brewing.
Travel to the “Swiss Cheese Capital of the USA,” – Monroe, Wisconsin – to meet Madeline Kuhn, a cheesemaker at Emmi Roth. There, host Luke Zahm tours one of the largest cheese caves in the state. Then head to Richland Center’s Anaway Place cabins where Zahm puts on a multi-course dinner influenced by the property and its natural surroundings.
In this special episode, host Luke Zahm is joined by his son Silas and executive producer Arthur Ircink’s son, Ilija. The trio zigzag across Wisconsin to find the best representation of gelato, ice cream and custard in the state. They stop at Baron’s Gelato in Sheboygan, Pearl Ice Cream in La Crosse and Leon’s Frozen Custard in Milwaukee.
Line up to get Pączki, a Polish donut! Every Fat Tuesday, hordes of people flock to Milwaukee’s National Bakery & Deli for one of these sweet treats. Host Luke Zahm tours the bakery and gets his hands sticky helping make donuts. Next, head to Door County to meet the Prince of Pierogi, Christoph Delonge, and make an item off his restaurant’s menu.
Host Luke Zahm heads to Wisconsin Dells’ Mirror Lake with his trusty canoe to try and pull some monster perch. Paddling down the Wisconsin River, Zahm lands at The Shack, a retreat of Aldo Leopold – one of Wisconsin’s most influential conservationists. Zahm cooks a Leopold family cornbread recipe, which he pairs with lake-caught perch.
Travel to the Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market to meet cheesemaker Inga Witscher, host of PBS Wisconsin’s Around the Farm Table. Her micro-dairy, St. Isidore’s Dairy, uses its cows’ milk to produce small-batch aged cheddar. Host Luke Zahm learns about the process and makes a pasta dish using ingredients from the market and St. Isadore’s.
Meet upstart farmers Martice and Amy Kroll-Scales of Scales Family Farm, a two-acre farm plot within Fondy Farm at Mequon Nature Preserve. Follow Scales Farm to one of Milwaukee’s premier farmers markets, the Deer District Farmers Market. Host Luke Zahm stops by to meet Martice and Amy and taste his way through the offerings at the market.
Travel to the Green Bay area to meet Laura Manthe and Rebecca Webster, cousins and members of the Oneida Nation. They are working to revitalize White Corn, an ancient heirloom food, within the Oneida Nation. White Corn soup is a traditional dish that takes multiple days to prepare. Luke gets a personal tutorial on how to prepare White Corn Soup.
Head to Amherst Junction’s Ruby Coffee Roastery for a tasting of coffees from around the world! Co-founder Jared Linzmeier shares his philosophy on sourcing, roasting and brewing the perfect cup. Next, visit The Del-Bar, the legendary steakhouse or supper club, depending who you ask. Meet owner Amy Wimmer who shares her plans for the restaurant.
Travel to Ogdensburg to explore Wagyu beef cattle at Drath Family Farm. In 2013, the Drath family turned their third-generation dairy farm into a Wagyu beef operation. After spending time on the farm, host Luke Zahm meets chef Todd Leech of Rare Steakhouse for a lesson on the proper way to prepare Wagyu steak.
Visit Appleton to meet with The Cozzy Corner owners Phillip and Heidi Bennett. The Cozzy Corner is a Southern-inspired restaurant serving soul and comfort food. Host Luke Zahm joins Philip in the kitchen to prepare The Cozzy Corner’s famous chicken wings.
Journey to Big Bend to visit Two Girls and a Farm, run by Polly Muradas Harrington and Kris Harrington. Learn what inspired Polly, a Brazilian and graduate of Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, and her partner, Kris, to get back to the land. Host Luke Zahm invites Polly to the Driftless Region to prepare a Paella dish outdoors over an open flame.
Detour to Detroit, Michigan, in search of the best Detroit-style pizza, which is made with Wisconsin Brick cheese. Loui’s is famous for their pies, and watch as host Luke Zahm tries making Detroit-style pizza with Loui’s owner. Travel back to Wisconsin and tour Widmer’s, learning the Brick cheesemaking process and origin story.
Chef Yia Vang runs Union Hmong Kitchen in Graze Provisions + Libations food hall in Minneapolis. Vang’s goal is to make Hmong food more approachable for American diners while also paying homage to his family and their history. Host Luke Zahm joins Chef Vang at his new concept, Vinai, and hopes to bring Vang back to Wisconsin to cook at Owl Farm.
Each spring, Tiernan Paine of Tree-Ripe Fruit Co. makes the journey from Milwaukee to Fort Valley, Georgia, to source millions of peaches straight from the branch making their way back to your kitchen table. Host Luke Zahm tags along for the cross-country trek to find out why and how the Pearson Farm produces the best peaches in the world.
The Alice in Dairyland program promotes all things Wisconsin agriculture, and current Alice in Dairyland Julia Nunes is only days away from passing the torch. We go on a multi-day adventure with the top Alice candidates, culminating at a giant event in Madison, where the 75th Alice in Dairyland will be crowned.
Travel to Fort Atkinson, home of Hoard’s Dairyman, to learn about the heavily decorated St. Saviour cheese. Hoard’s Dairyman is a beloved publication that was started in 1885. Hoard’s also runs a cheesemaking operation with Willow Creek Cheese and a dairy farm. Host Luke Zahm samples the famous cheese at The Union House restaurant.
Travel to Beloit to meet the farmers and owners of Bushel and Peck’s, a market and restaurant that sources a majority of the produce for their meals, pickled goods and hot sauces directly from their own farm. Luke follows Bushel and Peck’s hot sauce to Janesville’s Lark Market, part of a larger good food movement taking over the city.
Host Luke Zahm and chef Mary Kastman are on the hunt to remake their tea program at the Driftless Cafe, so they visit Tony DiMaggio of Sacred Blossom Farm in Mondovi. Tony grows a variety of herbs and botanicals to make the highest quality tea on the market.
Travel to Keewaydin Farms in Viola to learn about its evolution from dairy farm to organic CSA. Keewaydin hosts Driftless Curiosity, which invites guests to explore, interact and learn about the land with classes like maple syrup making and fly fishing. Host Luke Zahm travels to the farm for a dinner to highlight its amazing produce.
Host Luke Zahm visits Little Blue Ridge Farm in Kendall, where owner Kim Zuhlke has transformed a dairy farm into one promoting native plants, food and wildlife. Kim also works with the Department of Natural Resources to harvest venison for food pantries. Kim and Luke head into the woods to hunt deer, which Luke then uses to make venison confit.
Host Luke Zahm visits Fairchild restaurant in Madison, owned and operated by Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger. They focus on local sourcing, classic techniques and fantastic hospitality. Follow the story of one of those ingredients: cheese from Dreamfarm in Cross Plains. The chefs meet Dreamfarm’s owners, and taste cheeses for the restaurant.
Host Luke Zahm travels to the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek. In 2012, seven members of the Sikh temple were killed in a mass shooting. Luke learns more about the Sihk community's connection to food. He helps make 2,000 samosas for the 10-year anniversary of the tragedy, and sits down to enjoy the Langar experience with the Kaleka family.
Host Luke Zahm travels to Milwaukee to meet TrueMan McGee, owner of Funky Fresh Spring Rolls, at the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace. TrueMan and Luke taste a variety of unique dishes offered at the food hall, and discuss its importance to the Sherman Park community.
Host Luke Zahm heads north to Bayfield’s Apple Festival, attended annually by 50,000 people for apples, seasonal foods and cultural dishes. Luke visits Hauser's Superior View Farm to talk about a one-of-a-kind apple they produce, and Red Cliff Fish Co. to learn how the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa are creating a sustainable local food economy.
Host Luke Zahm heads to Lone Rock to meet up with Heidi and Julian Zepeda of Tortilleria Zepeda, purveyors of authentic Mexican corn tortillas. Julian walks Luke through the process called “nixtamalization,” from dried kernel to steaming fresh tortilla. Back at The Owl Farm, Luke prepares carne asada with fresh tortillas from Tortilleria Zepeda.
Host Luke Zahm visits ZimKnives in Milwaukee to meet knife maker Nate Zimmerman, who specializes in hand forging knives for some of the best chefs in the Midwest. Together, Luke and Nate craft a custom chef’s knife for Luke, which is later used to create the ultimate seasonal recipe, beef bourguignon.
Host Luke Zahm meets Orphee Paillotin and Paula Heimerl, of Alpinage Cheese in Oak Creek. Alpinage Cheese produces raclette, a Swiss-style melting cheese. Paula and Orphee demonstrate the cheesemaking process. Then, Luke visits Birch Restaurant in Milwaukee for insights on how chef Kyle Knall prepares the Alpinage raclette at his restaurant.
Host Luke Zahm visits one of his chef mentors, Eric Rupert of Fortune Favors in Madison, makers of special candied pecans. Fortune Favors also partners with Mayana Chocolate to produce the Magic Bar, a decadent candy bar with layers of pecans, caramel and nougat. Luke then travels to Spooner to meet Mayana Chocolate co-owner Daniel Herskovic.
Host Luke Zahm sets out to find some of the best bagels in Wisconsin. His first stop is to Allie Boys in Milwaukee to meet chef and co-owner Ben Nerenhausen for an inside view on their process and philosophy. Next, Luke goes to Madison to meet with bagel legend Mr. Joey Bagels, of Gotham Bagels.
Host Luke Zahm visits Door County to explore the world of fermentation. His first stop is Cultured to meet Mattea Fischer, who makes sourdough bagels, focaccia and kimchi. Then, he visits Matt Sampson, owner of Sway Brewing and Blending, to learn what makes his process of old-school brewing and fermentation uniquely Door County.
Host Luke Zahm travels to the “Home of the Hamburger” – Seymour, Wisconsin. In 1885, the hamburger was invented by Charlie Nagreen at the Seymour fair. Every year, the community celebrates with Burger Fest. Luke takes part in a hamburger eating competition and a ketchup slide, before showcasing his special touch on the burger.
Host Luke Zahm travels to Neenah to meet with Jon Horan, chef and owner of Town Council Kitchen & Bar. Horan is a Neenah native who has trained abroad and worked at high-profile kitchens around the United States. He and his wife, Kate, returned to Neenah to open their restaurant, which focuses on supporting Neenah’s local food economy.
Host Luke Zahm dives into the world of one of Wisconsin’s most celebrated and underrated specialty crops: Horseradish. Huntsinger Farms is the leading producer of horseradish in Wisconsin. Learn how horseradish is grown, harvested, processed and served, then join Luke as he cooks a supper club favorite: prime rib with horseradish.
Host Luke Zahm celebrates the Wisconsin State Fair. Joined by special guest chef Adam Pawlak, owner of Egg & Flour Pasta Bar, the two experience all the fried deliciousness the fair has to offer. The culinary highlight of the fair is the Sporkies, an annual food competition that honors the most unique and delicious dishes.
Host Luke Zahm travels to Fort Atkinson for a fishing trip with former Wisconsin Badger and Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame football player Joe Thomas. After a successful day on the river, they head to Island Bar & Grill to transform their fresh catch into a fish fry experience.
Host Luke Zahm ventures into Milwaukee to uncover a burgeoning culinary trend: vegan dining. His journey begins at Twisted Plant, which puts a plant-based twist on traditional comfort foods. Then, he visits Strange Town, which specializes in farm-to-table small plate dining.
Host Luke Zahm visits Kikkoman soy sauce company in Walworth. Celebrating 50 years in Wisconsin, it is now a global leader in soy sauce production. Why Wisconsin? Luke uncovers the story, forging a culinary link from Wisconsin to Japan.
Follow Chef Tory Miller of L'Etoile as he and his crew travel to Willi Lehner's Bleu Mont Dairy to cook a meal for 250 hosted by Outstanding in the Field. Join Madison's Underground Food Collective as they take over the L'Etoile kitchen to put on a 100 person dinner. Finally, Myrica Von Haselberg of the food blog Horno Magico puts on a secret Valentines Day dinner at Milwaukee's Best Place.
Meet farmer Jonathan Stich of One Guerrilla Farmer. Jonathan is a new breed of farmer that not only grows heirloom products of his own, but sources from the best farmers in his community and brings it directly to restaurants like Alinea and Next in Chicago and La Reve and Cafe at the Plaza in Milwaukee. Follow Jon on one of his routes to Chicago and back - meeting his chefs along the way.
Celebrate the "Old World" and the "New School" tradition of craft sausage making. European Homemade Sausage has been a staple on Milwaukee's southside since the 1970's. In 2010, master sausage maker Frank Jakubczak tried to retire only to have his customers demand he return. Then, meet up with the Underground Food Collective and see what a new generation of sausage makers are up to.
Travel to Sheboygan to visit with Chef Stefano Viglietti and tour three of his restaurants. After traveling to Italy, he and his wife Whitney returned to their roots and opened Trattoria Stefano 19 years ago. Visit his newest restaurants Field to Fork, Il Ritrovo and also the original Trattoria Stefano where Chef Stefano prepares us a southern Italian dish using mostly local ingredients.
Travel to Washington Island to meet with Ken Koyen, a 5th generation farmer/fisherman who supplies wheat to companies like Capital Brewery and Death's Door Spirits. Spend the day with Ken and his brother Tom fishing for White Fish, harvesting wheat and preparing a traditional boneless fish boil. See how to make the perfect Manhattan and visit Nelsen's Hall to join the Bitter's Club.
Travel to central Wisconsin to visit with Tony and Sue Renger, owners of Willow Creek Farms. Willow Creek produces some of the best award winning Berkshire pork in the state and they process and smoke all of their own meats. Tour their charcuterie facility, smokehouse and the pastures where the happy pigs roam free. Then, visit the Madison Club for the first SlowPig event put on by chef Dan Fox.
Meet Wisconsin native and award winning chef Tony Mantuano. Regarded internationally as an influential culinary force, Mantuano is the chef/partner at the only four-star Italian restaurant in Chicago. Mantuano worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy before opening Spiaggia in 1984. Visit Mantuano at his Kenosha restaurant Mangia as he hosts the 19th annual Masters of the Grill.
Kirby Nelson gives us a tour of Capital Brewery and a glimpse into beer making. Then, meet Ed Janus, author of "Creating Dairyland." He is joined by cheesemakers Sid Cook of Carr Valley Cheese and Jerry and Elise Klessig Heimerl of Saxon Creamery. Finally, a clip from the documentary by William Wroblewski titled "The Wheat Movie," where we meet craft baker Dave Bauer of Farm and Sparrow Bakery.
Get a behind the scenes look into the art of cheese making with award-winning cheesemaker Andy Hatch of Uplands Cheese. Then visit La Merenda restaurant in Milwaukee where Chef Peter Sandroni is hosting a dinner to celebrate Wisconsin cheese. Finally, catch up with writer Gordon Edgar of Rainbow Grocery Cooperative in San Francisco for a reading of his book, "Cheesemonger: A Life on the Wedge."
Visit Bacchus restaurant in Milwaukee with double James Beard Award-winning chef Paul Bartolotta as he hosts their annual Truffle Dinner. The Bartolottas get together all of their chefs and put on a multi-course dinner using the rare white truffle. Then, visit the Hamilton Bar, where Nick and Ira of Bittercube Bitters are hosting an event that pays tribute to forgotten cocktails and rare .45s.
Visit Kettle Moraine with chef David Swanson from Braise Restaurant and Culinary School to hunt for spring morels. Also meet publisher and editor-in-chief of Fungi Magazine, Britt Bunyard. Britt serves as our foraging guide, maneuvering us through the forest and pointing out what is edible and what is not. Later, chef Swanson uses only foraged items to cook a completely local and seasonal meal.
Visit chef Dave Swanson and get a tour of his freshly opened restaurant - Braise. David Swanson has been running a traveling cooking school for the past several years, cooking in barns and out in open fields. Then, meet the author of "Cheesemonger: A Life on the Wedge," Gordon Edgar. Gordon also runs one of the best cheese shops in the country, Rainbow Grocery Cooperative in San Fransisco.
2026
On Milwaukee’s Martin Luther King Drive, Luke visits Kinship — home to a café, urban farm and food center. He reunites with Chef Caitlin Cullen to explore scratch cooking, workforce training and dignity-centered food access — from cult-favorite fried chicken sandwiches to meals grown and shared with the community.
Fresh off Top Chef Season 22, Kat Turner returns to Door County to cook a hometown dinner at the Dörr Hotel. She visits iconic local cherry growers and producers, whitefish smokers and wild foragers, then links up with fellow Top Chef chefs to prepare a five-course, globally inspired yet Wisconsin-rooted meal.
At Kingston Creamery Co-op, Amish cheesemaker Nelson Schrock reveals how hand-milked cows and regenerative agriculture create award-winning blue cheese. The journey continues at Owl Farm, where Luke and Sanford (Milwaukee) Chef Justin Aprahamian transform Kingston blue and local ingredients into a transformational farm-to-table dinner.
June Dairy Month comes alive at the Dane County Breakfast on the Farm at Hinchley’s Dairy Farm, where pancakes, eggs and volunteers bring thousands together. The journey continues in Viroqua at Maybe Lately’s, where from-scratch biscuits, French toast and the iconic “Mr. Sandwich” showcase the care and craft behind a great Wisconsin breakfast.
The journey starts at Stoney Acres Pizza Farm, where farmer Tony Schultz turns wood-fired pizza nights into a delectable celebration. In Stevens Point, Luke and musician Adam Greuel (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades) tap trees and cook small-batch Casimir Gold maple syrup, before reflecting on food, music and community at BroKogi.
At Noble Rind Cheese Company, cheesemonger Sarah Clemens breaks down the craft of cut-to-order artisan cheese. The journey continues in Thorpe with Marieke Penterman, where raw milk travels from cow to vat, and a vertical tasting reveals the range of her celebrated Gouda — from young wheels to the famed “green card” cheese.
Madison’s legendary Guerrilla Cookie makes a comeback. Luke traces the countercultural treat from baker Ted Odell’s off-grid shack to its revival by Steve Apfelbaum at Three Waters Reserve and Mike Olsen of Elegant Foods. Fueled by the Willy Street Co-op, the cookie returns as a fundraiser for wetland conservation along the Sugar River.
At Mint Mark in Madison, Chef Sean Pharr demonstrates how seasonally-driven cooking comes together. He showcases foraging-level relationships with Vitruvian Farms, crafts next-level ramp sausage and cooks with insanely gorgeous oyster mushrooms. Watch how Pharr uses peak Midwest ingredients to craft simple, expressive plates.
Luke immerses himself in the Art of Cheese Festival, from a lunch at Taliesin to dinners honoring female master cheesemakers. A pizza party with Dana Spandet of Flour Girl and Flame at Seven Acre Dairy Company captures the festival's spirit. In Wisconsin, cheese is a living expression of place, people and pride.
Luke travels to Decorah, Iowa, for Seed Savers Exchange's 50th anniversary, joining Alice Waters, Sean Sherman and Linda Black Elk for a community dinner built on heirloom vegetables, wild rice and foraged foods. Then he heads to Owamni in Minneapolis, where chef Lee Garman's bison ribeye embodies the depth of Indigenous pre-contact cooking.
Luke visits Heartland Farms in central Wisconsin, where fifth-generation farmer Jeremie Pavelski oversees hundreds of millions of pounds of chipping potatoes grown each year. Next, a stop at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover reveals how exhibits and a teaching kitchen reconnect visitors of all ages to how food is grown.
Luke travels to Pepin's Harbor View Cafe, a four-decade institution built on cooking to order, local sourcing and dishes like halibut with black butter caper sauce. Then it's on to Plum City, where Nettie's Volta shapes its menu from foraged ingredients and hyper-seasonal Midwestern produce. Explore the quiet culinary depth of western Wisconsin.
Luke joins Kurt Fogle - a Racine-based chef who got his start at Q&H Danish Bakery - to hand-fill and shape Wisconsin's state pastry from 18-layer Danish dough. Then he heads to Gills Rock at the northern tip of Door County, where Charlie's Smokehouse has brined and maple-smoked Lake Michigan whitefish using the same methods since 1932.
